Close enough to Tucson that you'll hear your forecast on the local news every night, but far enough away to be able to see the stars, Arivaca is the perfect compromise between the city and the country. Life is an adventure in this border town filled with history of both people and animals undergoing a daily struggle for survival. A home for many species of endangered animals, nearby
Brown Canyon houses a variety of wildlife to discover, you can go canoeing at Aguirre Lake, Pena Blanca Lake, or explore the
Buenos Aires National wildlife refuge. Cattle ranches abound, as well as local farms and agriculture.
Originally an Indian village, Arivaca eventually gave way to the mining craze that swept most of Southern Arizona in the late 1800s. Today, it's considered a small ranching town, and contains the remains of many old settlements, including many of Arizona's oldest mines, an historic cemetery, and is famous as a site of ghost towns. The architecture of Arivaca reflects old-west living.
Arivaca is currently at the heart of a struggle for security in a perpetually insecure area. It's currently the site of the SBInet, a 98-mile invisible border fence managed by Boeing and the US Department of Homeland Security. The fence is a point of contention with some local residents, since the town many times serves as a political flashpoint in the illegal immigration crisis. The border of Mexico is just 11 miles away.
Zoned to the Sahuarita Unified school district, which contains one of the top-performing primary schools in the state, kids here get a city-approved education and make tons of friends who live nearby, all while living far from the city rush. Anytime during the year, the little ones can enjoy story hour at the local library, and in the summertime take advantage of the reading program or the creative play recreation program.
Arivaca also contains several churches of different faiths, a folklore festival, and it's own film festival. There are many activities available for seniors as well, including a hiking club, senior outings, exercise and yoga classes. You can also walk a nearby desert labyrinth made of native desert stones and lit by torchlight at night.
Most of the homes here are slightly more spread out floor plans than you find in the city, and on much bigger lots. Stucco exteriors are still quite popular, with a ranch style flair that makes this area truly unique. Since most of the non-agriculturally based population commutes to Tucson or Green Valley to work, the homes in Arivaca are places people design to kick back, relax, and get away from the city.
In October 2007, the average single family home or condo in Arivaca sold for $89,900. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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